Day 63 - 2 John

2 John is a short little book -- only 14 verses.  It doesn't even have chapters.  I encourage you to go read the whole thing.  It'll take you 90 seconds.  It mirrors 1 John in that it talks about walking in love and living in the Truth.  It warns against false teachers that aren't quite on the same wavelength with Jesus.  That's about it along with some greetings.  There is a line right at the end that is a throw-away line, right before the salutation.

¹² I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. (2 John 12)

John was a smart man.  You know what I thought about as I read that -- social media and email.  I remember a good friend showing me an email received from an employee.  I told him, "He's got to know that's inappropriate over email."  He's just got to.  He didn't.  Many don't.  Facebook, Twitter, and email aren't the place to have serious conversations that require voice inflection and body language.  What John said in the 2 John was important, but I'll bet he saved the biggest stuff for face to face interaction.

When we use electronic means to hash out conflict, we show our immaturity.  Moreover, we put dirty laundry in writing, where it can never be taken back and can be read over and over again.  I'll bet that's what John was dealing with.  The letter, though addressed to a church, is good generic teaching.  He left the personal stuff out.  It needed to be dealt with, it just didn't need to be written down for the whole world to see. 

As long as there are people in the world, there will be conflict.  It's just part of life.  We make it worse when we get into juvenile arguments over email or on the Internet.  This is not the way of maturity.  John made it clear there was a better way.  The next time you have something really, really important to talk about, use social media and email to set-up a face to face meeting -- don't use it to spill your guts.  That usually never works.  We can learn from John.

Day 62 - 1 John

One of my former Youth Pastors used to say that 1 John played hardball.  It's a challenging book to read.  John means business.  It deals with the earliest Christians learning to navigate this new found faith in Jesus.  It deals with the competing worlds of light and darkness, the ways of faith and the ways of the world.  And John says that there has to be a difference for those that call themselves followers of Jesus.

⁵ This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:5-7)

Then, later in 1 John 2:3-6...

3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4 The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

It's clear, Christians are supposed to be different.  Those who follow Christ are to be set apart from the rest of the world.  Light was a common metaphor in the Scriptures.  The Dead Sea Scrolls were found in the Qumran caves where the Essenes Sect lived and shared life together.  They were a sect of Jews who called themselves the Sons of Light.  I got to go there a few years ago when I visited Israel.  It's a fascinating place.  Some scholars believe Jesus even spent time there as part of that sect before he went into formal ministry at the age of 30, which would explain the "light" imagery we hear from Jesus.  John follows up on Jesus' teaching about light here, though, because he teaches us that WE are the light.  The light doesn't just come from God, we live in it and it shines through us.  Okay, so what does light look like in a Christian.  Easy -- love.

⁹ Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. ¹⁰ Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. ¹¹ But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him. (1 John 2:9-11)

Light looks like loving others.  We live in a world filled with cynicism, hate, and plain rudeness.  Those who follow Christ love people.  All kinds of people.  Mean people and nice people.  Hateful people and happy people.  People that love us back and people that are hard to love.  People we count as friends and total strangers.  Christians love because love looks like light and light points people to it's source.

Day 61 - 2 Peter

I am not a Calvinist.  Now, I respect what John Calvin meant to the Christian faith, and I have many friends who are dedicated Christians, some even fantastic pastors, whose theology is formed by Calvin.  I'm United Methodist, which means I lean more toward a Wesleyan theology, shaped by the thoughts of John Wesley.  However, I'm first and foremost a Follower of Jesus, and my theology is most formed by Scripture.  And I can't read the Bible and accept what today many would call a Calvinist theology.  That's all a bunch of seminary mumbo-jumbo.  What do I mean?  I simply reject the notion that some of chosen and some are not.  And, if I had to say why, 2 Peter 3:8-9 would do the trick:

⁸ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

This passage has always spoken to me for a few reasons. 

1. It makes dinosaurs make sense.  That has nothing to do with Calvin and predestination.  It just makes things make more sense that God's days are not like ours, which means Creation might have looked a little different than our 7-day week with 24 hours.  Time is irrelevant to God.  He's outside of time, which, for the most part, blows my mind.  But at least this clears things up to me.
2. God wants all people to be saved.  That's it.  God doesn't want to see people perish and end up in hell.  God desires ALL to come to faith in Christ.  He didn't create some so that they wouldn't just to even things up.  There isn't a special chosen group that are supposed to enjoy heaven and God's blessings.  All are creations of the Most High God. 

I respect Christians who have a different opinion of what it means to be chosen, but I just don't understand it.  This is one of the passages to me that reveals God's heart -- all are chosen.  All are under the blood of Christ if we choose to be.  I hope you know that.  Maybe you were made to feel like you didn't belong in church or that you had to clean up your act, your attire, your tattoos, or your habits before you came to Christ.  That's not true.  Jesus does the cleaning...we just come.  All are welcome.  All are chosen.  All can be His children.  And He is waiting -- patiently -- for you to come home. 

Day 60 - 1 Peter

Nobody is a nobody in the Kingdom of God.  Nobody.  Nobody, nobody, nobody.  That's a great message.  When we come into relationship with Jesus, we find our truest self.  We find who we were created to be.  We find our purpose.  The Apostle Peter put it this way:

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

I LOVE this passage in 1 Peter because it speaks against that.  It's not that we're not a nobody or not just anybody.  It's about saying that we are indeed somebody special.  We were called into the light, out of the darkness, into a new kind of life.  Maybe before we weren't a people, but when you call upon the name of Jesus, you are the people of God. 

I hope you know that.  You are not a nobody.  You are somebody because Christ died for you.  And if you say 'yes' to Jesus, you become a part of the people of God.  You have a new destiny.  You are holy.  And you will never be a nobody again.


When we come to faith in Christ, we are redefined.  The human race is more connected than ever before, but, in many ways, we are more lonely.  It's easy to feel like we are alone.  It's easy to start thinking that we don't matter, that we're just so small.

Day 59 - James

You ever say something you regretted?  Have you ever harmed a relationship because of a callous word?  I have been guilty of having a big mouth from time to time, and it's amazing how you can ruin a relationship with one senseless phrase.  The book of James warns about our words and language:

2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.



3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.


7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.


9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt[a] water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

So, what does this mean about our posts on Facebook?  What does this say about text messages?  Those are some examples of modern-day language, and they're not exempt from this directive.  If we want to be the kinds of people we were created to be, we are called to get a handle on what we say...and what we type.


Basically, the Scriptures say that our lives will dictated in large part by how we speak to people or about people.  Moreover, it can derail the life God has planned for us.  Salt and fresh water don't flow from the same spring.  God wold desire our language and words to be uplifiting and encouraging.  We can't speak blessings and curses with the same mouth.  This is especially important for leaders.  Whether your a parent, pastor, boss, teacher or coach, what we say to those we lead has a profound impact on them, especially hurtful and negative words.

Day 58 - Hebrews

Faith -- it is the central cog in Christianity.  There's no other way around it.  Preachers do not ask people to come to the front to put their fact in Jesus; they ask them to come put their faith in Jesus.  Hebrews 11 is kind of a "Hall of Faith."  I suggest reading it.  It's cool to read about the heroes of the faith.  That's really what it's about.  Hebrews 11:1 sums up this mysterious thing called 'faith.'

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." 

That's it.  Faith flies in the face of conventional wisdom.  It always kind of gets on my nerves when Christians try to 'prove' things.  Followers of Jesus don't work off of proof.  We are people of faith.  Faith says that the impossible has happened and will happen.  Faith says I'm sure God will move, even though I can't prove it or see it.  Faith says that I believe even though it's 2,000 years later.  Faith says I am convinced even though it doesn't always make sense.  Faith says I surrender to God's will, even when the hard evidence tells me I should do otherwise.

I think we want to 'prove' things because, in truth, operating in faith seems a little bit looney to the world -- and no one wants to be looney.  But I want you to know something:  you can't escape faith.  Following Jesus is not about proof.  Ephesians 2:8-9 says we are "saved by grace through faith."  Grace is God's part; faith is our part.  The beautiful thing about faith, though, is that it points us to a life that has no rules.  We are not bound by conventional wisdom and what makes sense anymore.  Through faith, all things are possible.  Miracles happen, lives are changed, the dead come to life.  That is faith.  That is what it's all about.  It's okay to like data, but never forget that those life in Christ is a life of faith.

Day 57 - Philemon

Philemon is one of those little books and sometimes little known books that we don't read often.  It really has one theme and point.  It has one chapter.  Here's the crux of it:

8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.



12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.


17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

That's the story.  Paul is writing Philemon to impress upon him the importance of freeing his former slave so that he might be a partner in the ministry rather than just a forced laborer around the house.  He is asking Philemon to change his mind about something...something that will have a huge personal impact on him.  Two things come to mind in this passage.

1. The Bible was written during a period of slavery a long time ago.  Do you know how radical this little book is?  Very, very radical.  To me, Philemon is evidence enough of a new found ideology on slavery that we don't see in the rest of the Bible.  Paul even talks about slavery a lot.  However, this book is written when Paul is an old man, and I think we're seeing a bit of a changed perspective.  Paul recognizes that this is about people, and calls on Philemon to do the same.  The people that used the Bible hundreds of years ago to support slavery obviously had not read Philemon.  This is a radical passage for what was a hot-button issue many years ago.  May this kind of thinking permeate communities across the globe where the barbaric institution of slavery is still accepted.
2. Paul leveraged his influence and position for the good of those who had no influence or position.  This is what servant leadership is about.  We hear that term 'servant leadership' a lot.  I'm not sure if anyone has a really good definition for it, but I know it when I see it, and this is it.  Leaders and those in positions of authority are called by God to leverage their position for the good of those who have no power or authority.  Leaders nudge.  Notice Paul says that he could basically 'command' this, but instead he was appealing out of love.  Paul understood the nuances of leadership, and he also understood the incredible responsibility he had on behalf of others. 

So, don't be afraid to rock the boat and leverage your leadership.  A couple of good lessons from a little book.

Day 56 - Titus

^{Titus is a beautiful little book, and much of it deals with daily life.  Not rules and regulations, more like ideals.  Paul is trying to teach these new followers of The Way how to live.  They have been ruled by the iron fist of the Law for so long that they don't know how to behave.  However, he is quick to point out that just because they're not under the Law any more doesn't mean that they're free to live willy-nilly out in the world, doing whatever they want.  In fact, faith in Christ raises the bar for what daily life looks like:}

 

¹⁶"They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

2:1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, ...6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." (Titus 1:16-2:8)

How we live simply matters.  Followers of Jesus are supposed to be different.  Paul pounds that message over and over again in his letters, but it's never more clear as it is in Titus.  It raises some questions for us:

• What separates our lifestyles from the rest of the world?
• In what ways are we showing kindness and love when the world is showing a mean spirit?
• Do people look at us and see something different (in a good way)?

Followers of Christ are supposed to stand out.  Too often, Christians either don't stand out as our lifestyles look just like those around us.  Maybe that's because a lack of faith; maybe that's because we don't want to stand out.  Moreover, when we do stand out, it often looks like picket lines and protests rather than radical love and kindness to a broken world in every day life.  Let us do as Paul teaches Titus.  Let us live with actions that point to Jesus.

Day 55 - 2 Timothy

We did not arrive on our own. Many of us have stories of mommas or grandmothers praying for us for decades. Many of us have stories of ministers who served as inspiration and guidance. Timothy was no exception, and I love this passage written by Paul to his young apprentice:

"I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self‑discipline." (2 Timothy 1:3-7 NIV84)

None of us arrive alone. If you are a follower of Jesus, someone else helped lay a foundation of faith in you. It's easy to forget those people as time passes, but this Scripture serves as a reminder to take a moment to thank God for them.

Paul was a powerful force for the Gospel, and Timothy would soon take over much of his ministry. However, Paul recognized there were people behind the scenes that had helped shape Timothy's faith long before he showed up. Take a moment to thank God for your mentors in the faith...and thank them, too.

Day 54 - 1 Timothy

"I am not a role model." That's what Charles Barkley says. That's kind of the attitude we have in modern culture, and we see it in leadership. We have a leadership vacuum in our culture, and we even see the effects of that in the Church. The Apostle Paul said that more is simply expected from Christian leaders:

"Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self‑controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.

Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.

A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well." (1 Timothy 3:1-12 NIV84)

That's a high calling. It's certainly intimidating for someone like me. The bottom line is that Paul says that more is expected of leaders. Leaders shouldn't work to build a facade, but should work to be real, building instead a reputation o respect and honor.

Man, when I think about this, I think about Facebook, how we relate to our mechanic, how we behave in a restaurant, and how we raise our family. It all matters. This is not about being perfect. No one is. This is about a higher calling. It's time for us to expect more from leaders in the Church - just as Paul did.

And...wouldn't it be something if we all decided to be leaders and be above reproach for the sake of the Kingdom?

Day 54 - 1 Timothy

"I am not a role model." That's what Charles Barkley says. That's kind of the attitude we have in modern culture, and we see it in leadership. We have a leadership vacuum in our culture, and we even see the effects of that in the Church. The Apostle Paul said that more is simply expected from Christian leaders:

"Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self‑controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.

Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.

A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well." (1 Timothy 3:1-12 NIV84)

That's a high calling. It's certainly intimidating for someone like me. The bottom line is that Paul says that more is expected of leaders. Leaders shouldn't work to build a facade, but should work to be real, building instead a reputation o respect and honor.

Man, when I think about this, I think about Facebook, how we relate to our mechanic, how we behave in a restaurant, and how we raise our family. It all matters. This is not about being perfect. No one is. This is about a higher calling. It's time for us to expect more from leaders in the Church - just as Paul did.

And...wouldn't it be something if we all decided to be leaders and be above reproach for the sake of the Kingdom?

Day 53 - 2 Thessalonians

Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. (2 Thessalonians 1:4- 5 NIV84)

Perseverance. Faith in suffering. It's not always easy to keep the faith. Perseverance is simply about the ability to keep keeping on. There are no promises that life will be easy. One of the biggest misnomers in Christianity is that once you accept Christ, everything will be hunky sport. The opposite is often true.

Trials and hard times will come. That's when our faith is put to the test. Know that God walks with us through those difficulties. That's the great promise of Scripture. So, whatever you're going through...keep keeping on. Be worthy of the Kingdom.

Day 52 - 1 Thessalonians

Simplicity.  That was the message for the Church in Thessalonica.  Most Bible scholars believe 1 Thessalonians as the oldest book in the New Testament, and it makes sense that simplicity is a central theme.  Discovering what it meant to be Christian was complex in the context of figuring out where to land amidst freedom in Christ and the Law.  Two passages tie this simplicity theme together:

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that that you will not be dependent on anybody." 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

A quiet life.  Simple.  Don't let the world get too complex on you because people need to see something in you that is not of this world.  This message is clear directions for earlier followers of Jesus called to make an impact on the world.  Others are watching.  Outsiders are watching.  That's been one of the problems with the Church.  We have talked a good game, but our daily lives haven't won the respect of outsiders.  How do we do that?  Well...how do we talk with people?  How do we deal with people in business?  How do we handle a problems with other people?  What kind of parent are we?  What kind of child are we?  What kind of friend are we?  Our daily lives are either going to win respect or solicit disrespect.  The Apostle Paul, the writer of 1 Thessalonians, spells it out further in chapter 5.

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

That's what a quiet life that wins the respect of all people looks like:  joyful, prayerful, grateful.  That is a different kind of person the world normally experiences.  That is the kind of person that earns respect.  Paul says that those that follow Jesus should have a joyful attitude, and we are able to do this because we are always in a state of prayer, always in communication with our Creator.  When we do this, we are able to give thanks IN all circumstances, not FOR all circumstances.  That's a big difference.  Sometimes circumstances sometimes stink.  However, our attitudes don't have to stink.  And, our relationship with Jesus doesn't have to stink.  When we are in a state of prayer and we have the right attitude, we are able to be thankful for what we do have when the circumstances aren't so great.  When we do that, we lead a life that wins respect from all we encounter.  The world is at the mercy of circumstances.  Our faith supersedes circumstances.  God is good even when life isn't.  It's just that...simple.

Day 51 - Colossians

Christians have struggled for centuries with the idea of rules.  What rules are followers of Jesus supposed to adhere to? The earliest Christians were coming from a Jewish background.  They had been tought to follow "The Law", and they struggled to figure out the ramifications of their new-found faith in Christ.  Would this mean they could ignore the Law?  Would this mean they would follow the Law more fervently.  In Colossians, the Apostle Paul makes it clear that faith in Christ means that something has happened much deeper in our spirit than simply following the Law on the outside.

8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.


9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.


13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.


16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19 He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.


20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.


1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 2:8-3:3)

We still try to make it about rules, but it's not.  Faith in Christ actually ups the ante, Paul says.  Following the Law was just about following rules, though stringent, and then kind of letting your heart and spirit do whatever they want.  It was all about the outside for these guys.  This new way in Christ is about dying to this world so that our spirits are now in tune with Christ's spirit. 

At the same time, we now have freedom that we didn't formally have.  We are not under the heavy yoke of regulations and laws.  We have freedom in Christ.  Yet, I think what Paul is saying is that we will now WANT to follow God more deeply because our spirit's align with Christ rather than simply following rules out of obligation.

We short-change faith when we make Christianity about rules.  We miss the whole point then.  It is about so much more.  It is about living a Spirit-led life that is just as concerned with what is going on inside our hearts as it is with what we're doing with our hands or what we're eating.  You don't have to follow rules to be a Christian, you just have to follow Jesus -- and that is a much higher calling.

Day 50 - Philippians

Gosh, as I was looking over Philippians I was reminded of how much of an impact that book has had in my life.  There are so many passages from Philippians that stick in my head and have been meaningful to my understanding of life in Christ.  There is one passage in particular that speaks to an issue that is rampant in our culture:  contentment.

What does it mean to you to be content?  Does it mean you're happy...always?  Does it mean you're satisfied?  Does it mean you've settled for whatever life gives you?  The Scriptures point to contentment as a something that can only be given through intimacy with God's Spirit.  In fact, Paul says that he's 'learned' to be content.  It doesn't come naturally for us humans.  Look at what he says in Philippians 4:11-13:

^11 "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

Long before Tim Tebow had eye-black, Philippians 4:13 was a deep truth, and it didn't mean that you can conquer the world through Jesus.  That verse takes on a whole different meaning when read in the context of this passage.  It's really more that you can withstand anything.  Our faith in Christ teaches us and reminds us that we are part of a bigger story.  Our reality is bigger than the things of this world and the ways of this world.  Because of Christ, we can be content in "ALL" circumstances.  Maybe you're sitting in a tough job with a tough boss, maybe you're struggling through some messy family stuff, maybe you're dealing with financial stress, or maybe you've got health problems or a close family member does.  Maybe life isn't happy right now.  However, we can find contentment in Christ.  Happiness is often circumstances  One thing I've learned in life is that you can't always control the circumstance in which you often find yourself.  But, we can control the source of our contentment.  When we have contentment in Christ, when our perspective on life and reality is shaped by His principles, then He's sure to give us strength to go through anything.  That doesn't mean it'll be easy or comfortable or always fun.  It simply means you'll come out on the other side and you won't go alone, and you'll begin to see life through the lens of the Gospel instead of yours.  When you realize that you have eternal life in Christ because of his death on the cross and you realize that no circumstance can take that away, you begin to understand contentment.

Day 49 - Ephesians

Ephesians has some of my favorite passages in the New Testament.  It's a great book that details what Christian living looks like for a new community of faith trying to figure out that means.  It deals with the struggles between the Law and the grace of Christ.  One of the most famous parts of Ephesians is often it's most misquoted and misunderstood:

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.



22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. (Galatians 5:21-33)

Unfortunately, this passage is often divided up, which leads to a lot of confusion.  For centuries, men have loved quoting verses 22-24, but that's an incomplete reading, and that's a shame because this passage give such beautiful words of direction for husbands and wives.  The over arching theme of the passage for all parties is submission.  Christians, and especially Christian wives and husbands, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 

That's what it's all about -- mutual submission.  That's the story of Christian marriage.  We must submit to each other, continually, putting each other's needs first.  Then, Paul calls on wives to submit to their husbands.  Why?  Because of the next section.  Christian husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loves the Church.  And what did Christ do for the church?  He died for it, gave himself up for it, completely surrendered to it.  That's what husbands are called to do. 

Men, are you willing to completely surrender for the sake of your wife?  Will you die to yourself and your own desires for her well-being?  Will you give yourself up for her, daily?  Now, I haven't met every Christian woman in the world, but most Christian women I do know would submit to a man who puts her needs first, who always acts in her best interest, who dies to his own needs to meet hers, who submits to God's will over his own, and who mutually submits to her.  Most women I know would follow a husband like that where ever he goes because she trusts him unconditionally.  However, when men are selfish or spout off that passage about submission without heeding the directive to mutually submit themselves and sacrifice as Christ has, it comes off as chauvinists and pig-headed.  And it is.  Submission in Christian marriage works both ways, and when it's done the way Paul describes it in Ephesians -- it's a beautiful thing.

Day 48 - Galatians

What are the rules for Christian living?  That's what we all want to know.  What can I do?  What can I get away with?  Isn't Jesus just trying to get me to follow what He wants?  "Christianity is just a bunch of regulations."  "My pastor just doesn't want me to have any fun."  How close is the line between right and wrong...sin and obedience?

The truth is...there are no rules.  Following Jesus and being a Christian, in fact, are all about NOT having rules.  The earliest Christians struggled with this concept because they came out of a Jewish context which related obedience to following Hebrew Law.  Jesus came as the fulfillment of the law, and if you followed Him, there was no need any longer for all the regulations.  So, does that mean we get to do whatever we want as long as we say we love Jesus?  Paul answered that question elegantly in Galatians 5:16-25:

"16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.



19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.


22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."

There is one rule.  Live by the Spirit.  When we become followers of Christ, we are no longer 'worldly' people.  We do not operate under the law of the flesh; rather, we are ruled by the Spirit of God living in us.  Therefore, we act, move and make decisions according to the spirit.  And when we do, we'll want to do things God's way, and instead of actions motivated by our own desires, we'll begin to see God's fruit in our lives:  love, joy, peace, patience, and on and on.

This living by the Spirit is more fluid than rules and regulations.  It takes more discernment on our part.  It means different things in different circumstances.  To act in love might me something entirely different in different environments.  It puts more thought in the process for us.  But, this is the best life.  In this life there is fullness and sweet fruit, not the emptiness and despair that living by our 'sinful nature' inevitably leads to.  It turns out there isn't  a bunch of rules to Christianity, just one big promise that if we live by the Spirit we will experience and abundance that we had never known.  Let us be people in the world, but of the Spirit.

Day 47 - 2 Corinthians

How do you view people?  How do you treat people?  Are they simply a combination of the mistakes they made, the good deeds they've done, the words they've spoken and the money they've made?  Is it their skin color or their income or where they're from?  Do you treat people from different religious groups different?  Are you supposed to?  Are you judgmental or do you even care?  Does it bother you that people are marginalized?  Are you combative and argumentative?  Are you indifferent or annoyed?

How we treat people matters.  And how we treat them is born out of how we view people.  In 2 Corinthians 5:16, the Apostle Paul says that for those in Christ, there is a high calling when thinking about others:

"So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view."

That's from the NIV, which normally use.  The Common English Bible, which I often use for my personal devotions, says it this way:

"So then, from this point on we won't recognize people by human standards."

The people of God are called to a different way.  We see inside.  We see the heart, the soul.  We see people as children of the Most High God.  We see magnificent creations of the Chief Architect.  We don't see their mistakes, we see their potential.  We don't see them for all they've done wrong, we see them for all they could do right. 

It is so easy to get cynical about people.  It's so easy to assume the worst about them.  People disappoint you, stab you in the back, gossip about you.  People let you down and do you wrong.  People break your heart and hurt your feelings.  People are sometimes just mean.  People also get themselves into really bad situations.  They make mistakes that lead to terrible consequences and put them in circumstances in which they can't get out.  People sometimes even pay the price of the mistakes of others, namely, the generations that have gone before them.  People are sometimes easy targets for judgment.

That is not who we are, though.  Christians see the best in others.  And the reason is that we recognize Jesus saw us for all that we'd done wrong and still loved us.  He saw all our mistakes and saw our potential.  In fact, 'while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.'  So, we treat people the way Jesus treats us.  That's why we see people in their best light, because Jesus first loved us. 

Day 46 - 1 Corithians

Are you willing to do anything to reach those that don't know Christ?  If I could say that there was one verse that is the key verse for our church, Church of the Way, it's 1 Corinthians 9:22.  Here it is along with the passage that lead up to it:

19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

I love the Apostle Paul's heart here.  This is what Christianity has lost.  We have given up risking to reach.  We make decisions too often on keeping the people that are there happy while ignoring the needs of those outside the fold.  Paul says that he's willing to do anything and everything to   reach people 'for the sake of the gospel.'

The other thing that I love about this passage, though, is that it's so wise.  Often churches get enamored with their own way or 'reaching out' and think that it's a 'one size fits all' for reaching the lost.  Paul says that it's different to reach the Jews, those under the law, those not under the laws, and the weak.  Everyone's different.  It takes something different to reach the highly educated or blue collar or sports crazy or artsy or southern or you name it.  It takes all kinds to reach all kinds.  That's why this passage also speaks to the Church about teamwork.  Our church can't reach all the people in our community.  We can reach many, but there will be those looking for different music, children's ministry, structure or message.  Our community needs strong churches of all kinds to reach all kinds of people.  We're all on the same team.  Are you willing to play your role on the team and do whatever it takes to reach those in your circle of influence?  Paul says it's the only way to be.

Day 45 - Romans

To me, Romans is the thickest of all Paul's letters and maybe all New Testament books.  It's one of those books of the Bible you need to read a few times to really get an understanding of it all.  It takes a while to sink in.  There are so many memorable verses and important passages that followers of Jesus cherish in Romans.  The one that sticks out to me is one you might know:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  - Romans 8:28

I remember going through a particularly rough patch as a teenager.  My daddy was traveling quite a bit at the time, and my older brother was long gone to college.  It was just my mama and me.  I don't really know what the rough patch was all about, but I'm sure it was about some girl, some teacher or some coach.  But I vividly remember my mama teaching me this verse.  I remember her saying that when she was going through tough times she remembered Romans 8:28.

Romans is key in shaping our theology of who Christ is and how to live that out, and this single verse is vitally important in helping us understand who God is.  He is working for the good.  In all things.  Of those who love Him.  So, this passage has some important points to make sure we understand it right.

• In all things.  No matter how bad things are, God is working.  Sometimes it's hard to see the light in the darkness, but God is moving, molding, shaping and working.  It doesn't matter how bleak it all seems.  God is there.
• He's working for good.  God's not working to judge you or thwart you.  God's not plotting your destruction.  God's working to make good come out of every situation.  Please understand two things about this:  1)  That doesn't mean that everything that happens IS good.  Sometimes life happens...and it stinks.  Sometimes we run into a string of bad luck.  God's working for good to come out of it, but that doesn't mean that it is good at the time.  2)  This also doesn't mean that God is causing all this stuff to happen so that he can work good.  God isn't scheming a master plan to cause bad things to happen to you so he can be revealed; rather, He's scheming to show you His glory in the midst of our broken world.  There's a big difference.
• This is for those that love him.  There's no promise that God is working good for those that don't.  Now, we know that God loves all people and that He is drawing all people to him.  It's not like God's plotting evil for those that don't love him.  He's trying to draw them into a relationship with him.  However, those that love him are getting special attention.  He's working for their good.

I don't know what you are facing, but I want to tell you to simply focus on loving Him and know that He is working for good.  It may be flat awful right now, but your Creator is moving and working, scheming and trying to bring about good in a situation that seems pretty bleak.  That's good news to me.

Day 44 - Acts

Acts is one of my favorite books in the Bible.  There's so much good stuff in there.  I think I love it because I started a church and Acts is all about the start of the Church.  It's just chock full of incredible stories and passages.  Miracles were happening through the Apostles, explosive growth was happening, churches were being birthed all over the area, new understandings of reaching all people (Jews and Gentiles) were coming to light...it was just an awesome time.  One of the most fascinating aspects to me is how this new movement affected the social and political world.  Never before were those in power more 'concerned' about a faith than in Acts.  One of the most powerful examples of that is the following passage:

23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. 25 He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: “Men, you know we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”


28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and rushed as one man into the theater. 30 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. (Acts 19:23-30)

I couldn't help but think about the upcoming elections when I read this passage.  These next few months we'll be bombarded with political ads.  Focus groups and lobbyist will try to tell us that they way to fix the social ills of society is to elect this person or that person.  Religious groups and even some churches will endorse candidates as THE answer for our community, state or country.  Churches who worship the same God will even endorse opposing candidates, both claiming a divine calling for their leadership.  Christians have somehow began to think that politics is how you impact society.  But you can't legislate faithfulness.  You can't legislate heart-change.  Policies and politics don't change people - the Holy Spirit changes people.

The cool thing about this story is that it's the same issues as today.  Did you catch what happened?  People's lives and hearts were being changed so drastically that they were no longer buying the idols that some of the chief money makers had been producing for years.  Life change was happening, and it was having an economic impact on the community because people's values were changing.  That's pretty profound.  What if the church concentrated on changing lives in the community instead of changing policies in the community.  This is when Christianity was a grassroots movement.  It was from the inside out.

Do you know why they make R movies?  Because we watch them?  Do you know why the local news leads with crime and disaster?  Because we turn our channels to it?  Do you know why they keep producing pornography?  Because people keep buying it.  What if a grassroots movement happened again?  What if we changed our friends and neighbors and community from the inside out?  It could happen again.

Day 43 - John

In the last Gospel, there are so many passages that stick out.  John is so unique.  Matthew, Mark & Luke form what scholars call the "Synoptic Gospels".  There are many parallels between those three.  There are a few stories that are common to all four, but John stands alone with unique accounts of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.  John simply has a different perspective.  One of my favorite accounts in the book of John is one of the most well known stories about Jesus, probably because of its power, in John 8:1-11

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.



But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”


11 “No one, sir,” she said.


“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Two things stick out in this passage to me:

1. Jesus does not come to condemn.  We all want to cast judgment on those that have seemingly greater, nastier, dirtier sins than ours.  I guess it makes us feel better about our own sins.  This is not the way Jesus operates.  If there is anyone with authority to judge, it's Jesus, yet He comes in love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion.  Jesus was the only one there without sin, but he didn't condemn her.  The lesson that day wasn't just for the woman, it was for all those around.  Everyone got to see something in Jesus they had never experienced in religion before.  Jesus was coming to in compassion.
2. Jesus does not come to condone.  It's the part of this passage that many miss.  Jesus doesn't just forgive the woman and send her on her merry way and pat her on the back and say, "Now, now, don't worry about it."  Instead, He says, "Go now and leave your life of sin."  One translation says, "Go and sin no more."  Jesus doesn't forgive us to condone us, he forgives us to transform us.  Though he offers grace in the face of our gravest sins, he calls us to a life of purity, faithfulness, and obedience.  We are forgiven to be faithful.  Why?  Because God's plan for our lives rests in our obedience to Him and His ways.  If we forever rebel against God and continue in a life tangled in sin, we will never experience the life God desires for us.  Sin will hold us back from our destiny in Christ.  So, Jesus tells us, "Your forgiven.  I'm not holding it against you.  You're free from the burden of that sin in your life.  Now go and leave your life of sin.  I've got such a better life waiting for you!"

Day 42 - Luke

"1 Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”



3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." Luke 15:1-7

This is what Jesus is about.  There's no disputing it.  This is the work of the Church.  Often, though, we sacrifice reaching the one to please the 99.  I have heard Andy Stanley, Pastor at Northpoint Community Church, say many times, "Make decisions based on those you're trying to reach rather than those you're trying to keep."  Because you will drive yourself crazy trying to please the 99.  However, we often start thinking that THAT'S what the Church is about. 

The Church is the only organization of the world that exists for people that are not a part of it.  Our whole mission and purpose is to reach those people with God's amazing love, that their lives might be transformed with the love of Christ.

Please don't hear me say that the Church is not about discipleship.  Indeed, the Church is about 'sheep' growing and maturing.  In fact, I would say that's the crux of this, one of my favorite passages in Luke.  The 99 sheep are so mature that the shepherd is able to leave them to go reach the one.  And, I don't know if sheep can think, but I think these sheep understand the mission.  I long for the day with the Church of Jesus Christ throughout the world lives this mission.  When we all realize it's not about us, it's about those that don't know Christ yet.  What would it look like for the Church to radically do whatever it took to reach those that don't know Jesus?  What would it mean for you to do whatever it takes?

Oh, and just a note, take a minute to read verses 8-32 in Luke 15 for two more stories about God's heart for reach that which is lost.  It's who He is.  Let it be who we are.

Day 41 - Mark

Mark gets right to business in his Gospel.  There are no genealogies or stories of the birth of Jesus.  No stories of the boy Jesus in the temple.  When Mark picks up the story, Jesus is a man and ready to change the world in ministry.  It's fast paced and heavy hitting.  This sticks out right near the beginning of the Gospel:

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."  Mark 1:35

I know you're busy.  I am, too.  You've probably got a lot going on.  Raising kids, work, all the activities you're involved in, fixing up the house, family obligations.  It's easy to get so busy to think that 'praying on the run' will do.  It's easy to think that we don't really need much alone time with God.  We're thinking about Him a lot, and praying that the traffic we're in doesn't make us late for our appointment.  That's good enough, right?

I'm just going to go out on a limb and say that if the Savior of the world needed solitary time to pray with God, perhaps we do to.  We have the MAKE time to spend with God.  We have to MAKE it a priority.  There's nothing wrong with praying on the run, but that can't be it.  Now, contrary to popular opinion, the Bible doesn't point out directions for 30-minutes every day at 5:30 a.m.  We don't see that with Jesus.  But we do see that Jesus takes time when He knows that He needs time, and that's key for us.  We have to take time when we know our soul needs it.  I don't know what that looks like for you.  Perhaps it means:

• A walk in the woods
• A long bath
• A morning on your back porch
• Holing up in your bedroom or office while the house our office is quiet

There's no right or wrong way.  How God speaks to you and how you feel solitude are up to you.  But we all need it.  Don't get too busy for God.  Jesus was saving the world, and He took time for it.

Day 40 - Matthew

So, we've been walking through the Bible and we're finally to the New Testament.  39 books of the Old Testament, and now we're on to the New Testament.  Everything changes in the New Testament.  Jesus changes everything.  But, the Old Testament and the New Testament don't stand apart for those that follow Jesus, they stand together.  Though there are lots of great stories in Matthew about the birth, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus, I think one of the coolest parts is probably the least read section:

1 A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:



2 Abraham was the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,
Perez the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
4 Ram the father of Amminadab,
Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,
Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse,
6 and Jesse the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,
7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asa,
8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,
Jehoram the father of Uzziah,
9 Uzziah the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,
10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amon,
Amon the father of Josiah,
11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
12 After the exile to Babylon:
Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
13 Zerubbabel the father of Abiud,
Abiud the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
14 Azor the father of Zadok,
Zadok the father of Akim,
Akim the father of Eliud,
15 Eliud the father of Eleazar,
Eleazar the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.

          (Matthew 1:1-17)
Why does the genealogy of Jesus matter?  First, it ties the Old Testament together.  It shows that Jesus is part of the greater story of God among His people.  This has been in the works for a while.  However, the thing that speaks to me the most is that people matter.  There are lots of names in there you might recognize:  Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, and Joseph.  But there are more names that we don't know.  Names of people that show up only here.  But they are part of the story.  They have a role -- a pretty important one!  People matter.  Individuals matter.

We live in a big world and in between loads of laundry, cooking dinner, and monotonous days at work we can begin to feel insignificant.  We start feeling like we are small, that we don't matter, that we don't play much a part in God's story.  But we do matter.  Even though we might not become famous Abrahams or Davids, we play an important part of the story.  Don't get lost in this big world thinking you're small.  Don't get lost in the laundry and the long days and the countless dinners and the routine.  You matter.  Play your role and do it the best you can...because only you can do it.

Day 39 - Malachi

I believe in magic...sort of.  I call it "Tithe Magic."  I believe in tithing.  I believe in giving 10% of my income to God's Church.  I believe it works.  I believe it honors God and God honors those who tithe in return.  I just trust God on this.  I don't understand and can't explain to you logically how you're better off with 90% of your income than you are 100% of your income.  But I just believe you are.  It's magic.  The thing I love about the concept of tithing is that God challenges us on it.

7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.



“But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’

8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.

“But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’

“In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse —the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit, ” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty. (Malachi 3:7-12)

Don't you love that?  Test me in this.  Just try me.  If you will be faithful, if you will just trust me with your money and show that you are financially surrendered to me, just watch what I do.  I will provide for you in ways that you wouldn't have imagined.  I will open up the flood gates of heaven on you.

I have seen this in my life.  I have been tithing since I was old enough to make any money, and the stories of God's provision in my life have grown too numerous to count.  My wife and I have always tithed, even when it wasn't easy, and somehow God has provided, even when it didn't make since.  Recently, a friend of mine who has been a regular tither had a family member buy them a new car, out of the blue, when they sorely needed one.  It was just one of those things.  It was magic.

Money is a sensitive issue for many.  It ought not to be.  Tithing is clear direction from God.  And it works.  A lot of people would argue against it and come up with excuses as to why they shouldn't or couldn't tithe.  But if you don't surrender to God financially, you'll never see the blessings God wants to give you.  Simply, if we won't honor God with little, why in the world would God want to give us much.  Test Him in this...and watch the magic!

Day 38 - Zechariah

Jealousy seems like a bad thing.  Can it ever be a good thing?  We have a hard time thinking about God being jealous, but the Scriptures say just that:

"Again the word of the Lord Almighty came to me.  Thi is what the Lord Almighty says:  'I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.'"
       -Zechariah 8:1-2

The Hebrew word there is 'qana', which means to provoke to envy, jealously or anger.  Simply, God is a jealous God.  What's He jealous for?  Doesn't He have everything?  It's simple.  God is jealous for Israel's attention and affection.  He wants it all.  God doesn't just want 99.9% of your heart.  He's jealous for the other .1%.  This is not because God is mean spirited.  It's because He loves us.  He wants what is best for us, and what is best for us is to be in complete union with Him.  When we are holding back a little portion of our lives, we are holding back our potential.  God is jealous for what we can be.  He is jealous for what we're missing out on.  He loves all of us and wants all of us.  So, it begs the question:  is there anything in our lives for which God is jealous?  Are there sections of our hearts that are not committed to Him?  Are there corners of our soul that are roped off from His influence and blessing?  Let us give it all to Him.  Let us trust His love, for it burns for us, willing us to our best life.  Let us live into it.

Day 37 - Haggai

I love the Minor Prophets because their messages were so specific.  God called each of them to a unique vision and gave them a specific word for the the people to which they were called.  Haggai's call is one that hits close to home for most of us.  Really, it was a word about selfishness.  The people had been wondering if God was really calling them to rebuild the temple, His house.  They'd kind of put that project on the back burner, and God gave this message through Haggai:

1 In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest:



2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house. ’”


3 Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin? ”

5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored, ” says the Lord.  (Haggai 1:1-8)

So, you're going to ignore the house of God and the work of God while you enjoy the spoils of luxury?  That's the message God is giving His people.  It's a fitting one for us on Independence Day.  I am so grateful to live in a country and enjoy the freedoms that we enjoy in the USA.  I'm thankful to the men and women who have fought and died and are still fighting and dying so that we might enjoy that freedom.  I never worry that I'll be arrested when I go to church on Sundays.  Freedom is of God because He gave humans freedom in the Garden of Eden.  In the midst of that freedom, we have created a very profitable and comfortable society.  Simply, we have more excess than any culture in the history of humanity.  Materialism and possessions have become our gods.  There's no way around us.  We flock to "the outlets" looking for deals on more stuff we don't need.  We've turned shopping into a hobby, like reading or exercise.  Every commercial on TV is intended to get us to buy something, to convince us that we need something else.  We hoard stuff in our basements and attics.  We throw away food because we don't eat it before it spoils or we just don't like the way it tastes.  And I wonder, would God's message to the Church in America be similar to the way He delivered through Haggai centuries ago?

Church attendance in America is shrinking each year.  Kingdom work struggles financially.  And we keep buying more and more stuff.  Stuff isn't bad.  I don't think that's the message.  I think the message that God is saying through Haggai is simple, "Don't forget what's most important."  There are lots of things that are important to us, and they're different for each person and family.  We have different interests and dreams.  No where are those interests illustrated and given weight more than our finances.  How we spend our money is such a tangible example of what we deem important.  God is telling us not to forget what is most important in our list of important things.  Family is important.  Hobbies and interest are important.  Food is important.  God is most important.  If we are faithful to live into that truth, I believe we can live under the same promise God gave through Haggai in 2:19 "From this day on I will bless you." 

Day 36 - Zephaniah

Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled! She obeys no one, she accepts no correction.

She does not trust in the Lord, she does not draw near to her God. Her officials are roaring lions, her rulers are evening wolves, who leave nothing for the morning. Her prophets are arrogant; they are treacherous men. Her priests profane the sanctuary and do violence to the law.

The Lord within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame.

“I have cut off nations; their strongholds are demolished. I have left their streets deserted, with no one passing through. Their cities are destroyed; no one will be left—no one at all.

I said to the city, ‘Surely you will fear me and accept correction!’ Then her dwelling would not be cut off, nor all my punishments come upon her.
But they were still eager to act corruptly in all they did.

Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord, “for the day I will stand up to testify. I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them— all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger.

“Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder. From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, my scattered people, will bring me offerings. On that day you will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from this city those who rejoice in their pride.

Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill. But I will leave within you the meek and humble, who trust in the name of the Lord. The remnant of Israel will do no wrong; they will speak no lies, nor will deceit be found in their mouths.

They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid.”
Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away your punishment,
he has turned back your enemy.

The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:1-17)

The Lord does judge the nations. Talking about God's judgment isn't really popular these days, but you can't really read the Minor Prophets and not think about judgment. Zephaniah is clear that God has His eyes on the leaders and rulers, even all the people. And the collective actions of the people of a nation bring judgment or blessing on the entire nation.

Now, the encouraging thing about this passage is that it is clear God sees the righteous, too. The work of the faithful does not go unnoticed. Even when the righteous are in an 'unholy nation', surrounded by those that plot evil, God will not leave them alone. In fact, he will protect them and draw them close to him. For he is mighty to save. Sounds like a good idea for a song:)

No matter what situation you find yourself in - stay faithful...God notices.

Day 35 - Habakkuk

Why do the bad guys ever win? That is essentially the question Habakkuk asked God at the start of his small boom of the Bible:

'How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?

Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?

Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong?

Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails.

The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.

Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong.

Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?' (Habakkuk 1:2-4, 13 NIV84)

It's a complaint. Habakkuk didn't like it that the good guys were losing while the bad guys prospered. Now, we know that in Christ there are no bad guys. All are creations of God that Christ died for. All have the opportunity to be saved through Christ. But you know what Habakkuk means here. Why do those that are wicked, do wrong, and sin get ahead? Why does God allow the righteous to struggle while those that plot sin and evil prosper? You may have asked this question at work or in your family.

The answer is simply that God's ways are not our ways. Victory for the faithful is promised in eternity and not always in this life. Still, God is often working behind the scenes to move in ways we simply don't understand. One of the answers God gives Habakkuk is, “Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. (Habakkuk 1:5 NIV84)

The truth is we don't always understand how God is working in the world, but we can always trust that God IS working FOR the righteous and faithful, even when it seems like the bad guys keep winning. There are consequences for disobedience, and there are beautiful promises for the faithful -- one day.

Day 34 - Nahum

2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;



the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath.


The Lord takes vengeance on his foes


and vents his wrath against his enemies.


3 The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;


the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.


His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,


and clouds are the dust of his feet.


4 He rebukes the sea and dries it up;


he makes all the rivers run dry.


Bashan and Carmel wither


and the blossoms of Lebanon fade.


5 The mountains quake before him


and the hills melt away.


The earth trembles at his presence,


the world and all who live in it.


6 Who can withstand his indignation?


Who can endure his fierce anger?


His wrath is poured out like fire;


the rocks are shattered before him.

7 The Lord is good,


a refuge in times of trouble.


He cares for those who trust in him,


8 but with an overwhelming flood


he will make an end of Nineveh;


he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness. (Nahum 1:2-8)

Dont.  Mess.  With.  God.  Part of the role of the some of the prophets is to remind of just that.  Don't.  Mess.  With.  God.  He means business.  God is serious.  There's no other way around it.  This passage has that glimmer of hope, reminding us that 'The Lord is good,' but mostly it's a diatribe against Ninevah and it's people, who have been godless and rebellious.

We need reminding from time to time that this is really serious.  Our matters of faith aren't just personal  and emotional, they are part of God's grand design.  There are ramifications for not following Him.  This is real.  This isn't high school.  This.  Is.  Real.  God is powerful.  This is the God who made the heavens and the earth.  This is the God who formed the sun out of his own hand.  This is the God who makes the mountains quake at the sound of His voice.  And this God does not take being ignored so well.  He can, and does, get angry.  And when we does, we can't stand it, literally.

The cool thing is that we know that God cares for those who trust in Him.  It's that simple.  Just trust in Him and not all the other stuff life offers up for our trust.  And we know we can trust Him because He's proven His love for us in Jesus Christ.  But we have a choice.  We don't HAVE to choose Him.  We don't HAVE to trust Him.  We can 'go our own way' as the song goes.  But know that if you do, this is serious because our God is a serious, big and powerful God.